Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Lung Cancer Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to lung cancer.
Should I be waiting?
by Skywchr, Jul 13, 2008 09:10AM
At 49 (and at my suggestion during routine physical exam), I had my first chest x-ray two weeks ago. I have smoked for 35 years and have had an intermittent cough for a year or so. I was contacted by a doctor assistant from my doctor's office stating that they wanted me to have another x-ray in 3 months. The reason given is that "lesions" were spotted in my lower lungs. No further information was given and the assistant didn't seem very concerned -- just passing along a message....
I am wondering.... should I just sit back and wait for the next x-ray in 3 months? And what exactly am I waiting for? To see if there are more lesions, bigger lesions? And if there are, what good will it do to know that then? Wouldn't that indicate this is going nowhere fast? Or should I be meeting pdq with the doctor to ask for more tests to be started now? Or is there even any point in worrying about it -- you know, damage done (smoking, breathing welding smoke, exposure to Cl gas), it's a done deal and not much is possible? One question just seems to spur another....
I am wondering.... should I just sit back and wait for the next x-ray in 3 months? And what exactly am I waiting for? To see if there are more lesions, bigger lesions? And if there are, what good will it do to know that then? Wouldn't that indicate this is going nowhere fast? Or should I be meeting pdq with the doctor to ask for more tests to be started now? Or is there even any point in worrying about it -- you know, damage done (smoking, breathing welding smoke, exposure to Cl gas), it's a done deal and not much is possible? One question just seems to spur another....
Post Comment
You should have thought about requesting the X-ray or at least discussed it with your doctor.
The issue is this: there is no clear way to screen for lung cancer. Screening with the use of X-rays do not really help, they do not reduce the chances of getting incurable disease, they do not improve survival. Any decision to proceed with a screening test, should be accompanied with a readiness to accept uncertainty in the event that something shows up.
Now you are living with uncertainty and you seem unprepared. In your case, a common practice indeed is to observe for changes and based on behavior over time, change plans (to biopsy or to continue surveillance) as the need arises.
You could consider getting a CT scan as this may be able to show more features and would provide more accurate measurements to monitor any changes. It would also evaluate the technical feasibility of performing a biopsy.
On the other hand, your interest in getting the Xray done in the first place indicates an interest in your health. I think this is a good thing. However, it seems you expected that your doctor and technology can provide all the answers instantly. The reason why you are made to observe for changes is that odds are, the risks of cancer are low against the risks of getting a complication from a biopsy procedure. Stay positive.